When my friend Tim and I used to spend our days at his mom’s house playing NBA 2K10 all day, the crowning achievement of each game would be dunking on someone and making them fall. There were only a few animations in the game that allowed that, and no matter what the score was it was always humiliating. So because of that I always get giddy when the feat is achieved in real life.

I don’t fault the Spurs Corey Joseph for trying to defend Russell Westbrook because that’s his job. But I don’t envy him either. Joseph got dropped trying to keep up with Russ on a mean tomahawk dunk in the third quarter of Game 4, and Russ even gave him a quick, “hope I don’t get a tech” stare afterwards*.

Westbrook finished with 40 points, 10 assists and 5 steals as OKC won 105-92. With the return of Serge Ibaka in Game 3 neither team looks the same, the Spurs look old and slow while the Thunder look refreshed and tenacious on defense. And just like that, it’s a new series with momentum firmly in their hands.

On the low, that man is borderline terrifying. He got that goon style of play; he’ll give you the sneaky hold/elbow combo coming off a screen and then give you that sarcastic grin when you start hollering. You’ll see that gold tooth and realize that this is not someone you wanna trifle with.

WIth that in mind, I’m never playing ball in New Zealand. Y’all crazy.

MMMMMM… nah. The offense really runs much better without one or the other, but when they play TOGETHER like this? I mean, it’s basically 2-on-5, where the 2 have the potential to outscore the 5, and probably the 5’s bench too.

Since the Mavs played OKC in the 2011 playoffs, I’ve called Russ the heart & soul of OKC. KD is the best player on the team and second to James, but Russ is far behind. He can frustrate you at times with his tunnel vision, but he’s going to leave it all on the floor.

Scary thing is Russ can get better. Man I hope the dynamic duo sticks together for a while.